Peace River Mayor highlights positive accomplishments in a challenging year

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Despite 2020 being one of the most challenging years for everyone, Peace River Mayor, Tom Tarpey feels that the town accomplished some great things. 

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland came to tour the region in January. 

In early January, Freeland visited her hometown of Peace River and met with town officials and other groups as well. 

“She visited with the chamber of commerce as well as local farmers and she did a lot of visiting during here one-and-a-half days here,” says Tarpey. 

“I think she gained enough information and I think with her being our favourite daughter, we were very proud she came to Peace River.” 

Another major highlight for the town was the Highway 2 bridge getting a new deck, and now work is underway to refurbish the deck on the south side of the river. 

For Tarpey, while seeing the new deck get built, he is glad there will be work in Peace River for the original deck’s refurbishing. 

“There will continue to be good work opportunities for Peace River residents on that bridge as we come out of the COVID recession,” says the mayor. 

In his year-end interview, Peace River MLA, Dan Williams told the Trending 55 Newsroom that the new work is estimated to take two construction seasons to complete. 

Tarpey also is highlighting the completion of Reservoir 365 in the south end. 

Council cut the ribbon to open the new facility in September, replacing the former reservoir, which was built in the 50’s. 

Tarpey says the new reservoir will increase water pressure for residents in the area and will assist the fire department as well. 

He adds the project was part of a bigger plan. 

“That was – in some ways – part and parcel with our neighbourhood renewal program, which year-upon-year is building upon success-after-success, so we are very positive about that,” explains Tarpey.

Another accomplishment Tarpey is proud of is transferring the airport to a not-for-profit group headed by local businessmen with an aviation background .

The town will stop subsidizing the airport in 2023.

Tarpey also shares with us that he never imagined he would be leading a community through a pandemic. 

“I never even imagined how a pandemic would roll out, but I think we have come through the worst of it,” suggests Tarpey. 

Certainly, the end seems to be in sight.” 

In closing, Tarpey says he sees a better future for local businesses and people struggling to find work. 

“I am expecting that towards the end of the year, there will be pent up demand and we will see a good rebound in the economy.” 

– Kenny Trenton, Trending 55 Newsroom

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